rock

¹ American  

[rok] / rɒk /

noun

1. a stone of any size.

   Please leave the creek rocks in place, as they can be habitats for bugs and other important creatures.

2. stone in the mass.

   It may be difficult to dig a basement for buildings that stand upon rock.

3. a large mass of stone forming a hill, cliff, promontory, or the like.

   They climbed up a nearby rock to eat their picnic lunch.

4. something resembling or suggesting a stone or mass of stone.

5. Geology.

   1. mineral matter of variable composition, consolidated or unconsolidated, assembled in masses or considerable quantities in nature, as by the action of heat or water.

   2. a particular kind of such matter.

      igneous rock.

6. a firm foundation or support.

   They have been a rock in my world, always there when I need a message of hope.

   My faith is my rock in times of trouble.

7. Chiefly British.  a kind of hard candy often shaped into a cylindrical stick, variously flavored.

   The textures of this dessert are inspired by boiled sweets like sticks of rock and candy canes.

8. rock candy.

9. Informal.  none rocks ice cubes for use in a beverage.

   He usually orders a whiskey without rocks.

10. Slang.

    1. a diamond.

    2. any gem.

11. Slang: Vulgar.  Usually rocks testes.

12. Slang.  Often rocks

    1. a piece of money.

    2. a dollar bill.

13. Slang.

    1. crack.

    2. a pellet or lump of crack.

14. curling stone.

    Regulation weight is verified for each rock before the curling match can begin.

---

idioms

1. between a rock and a hard place,  between undesirable alternatives.

2. get one's rocks off,

   1. to have an orgasm.

   2. to experience gratification; get thrills.

3. on the rocks,

   1. in or into a state of disaster or ruin.

      Their marriage is on the rocks.

   2. without funds; destitute; bankrupt.

   3. (of a beverage, especially liquor or a cocktail) with, or containing, ice cubes.

      Scotch on the rocks;

      a vodka martini on the rocks.

rock ² American  

[rok] / rɒk /

verb (used without object)

1. to move or sway to and fro or from side to side.

   Synonyms:

   shake , roll

2. to be moved or swayed powerfully with excitement, emotion, etc.

3. Mining.  (of sand or gravel) to be washed in a cradle.

4. to dance to or play rock music.

5. (of popular music) to have the driving beat characteristic of rock.

6. Slang.  to be very good, impressive, exciting, or effective.

   This show really rocks.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to move or sway to and fro or from side to side, especially gently and soothingly.

   Oh, look! Her big brother is rocking the baby to sleep.

2. to lull in security, hope, etc.

3. to affect deeply; move or sway powerfully, as with emotion; stun.

   Everyone in the courtroom was rocked by the verdict.

4. to shake or disturb violently.

   A thunderous explosion rocked the waterfront.

5. Slang.

   1. to stir up; animate.

      We're gonna rock this joint tonight!

   2. to use, wear, or display in a showy, self-confident manner or to great effect.

      Only you could rock that hat!

      The game rocks some amazing new features.

6. Graphic Arts.  to roughen the surface of (a copperplate) with a rocker preparatory to scraping a mezzotint.

7. Mining.  cradle.

noun

1. a rocking movement.

   the gentle rock of the boat.

2. rock-'n'-roll.

adjective

1. rock-'n'-roll.

idioms

1. rock the boat,  to disrupt the smooth functioning or routine of something.

   Don't rock the boat by demanding special treatment from management.

rock ³ American  

[rok] / rɒk /

noun

1. striped bass.

---

Rock ⁴ American  

[rok] / rɒk /

Also Rocky

noun

1. a male given name.

---

rock ¹ British  

/ rɒk /

noun

1. geology any aggregate of minerals that makes up part of the earth's crust. It may be unconsolidated, such as a sand, clay, or mud, or consolidated, such as granite, limestone, or coal See also igneous sedimentary metamorphic

2. any hard mass of consolidated mineral matter, such as a boulder

3. a stone

4. a person or thing suggesting a rock, esp in being dependable, unchanging, or providing firm foundation

5. a hard sweet, typically a long brightly-coloured peppermint-flavoured stick, sold esp in holiday resorts

6. slang  a jewel, esp a diamond

7. short for rock salmon

8. slang  (plural) the testicles

9. slang  another name for crack

10. having to choose between two equally unpleasant alternatives

11. 1. in a state of ruin or destitution

    2. (of drinks, esp whisky) served with ice

---

rock ² British  

/ rɒk /

verb

1. to move or cause to move from side to side or backwards and forwards

2. to reel or sway or cause (someone) to reel or sway, as with a violent shock or emotion

3. (tr) to shake or move (something) violently

4. (intr) to dance in the rock-and-roll style

5. mining to wash (ore) or (of ore) to be washed in a cradle

6. (tr) to roughen (a copper plate) with a rocker before engraving a mezzotint

7. slang  (tr) to impress by wearing (an item of clothing) or playing (a musical instrument)

   She can still rock a miniskirt

   He rocks a guitar like nobody’s business

8. informal  to create a disturbance in the existing situation

---

noun

1. a rocking motion

2. short for rock and roll

3. Also called: rock music.  any of various styles of pop music having a heavy beat, derived from rock and roll

Rock ³ British  

/ rɒk /

noun

1. an informal name for Gibraltar

2. a Canadian informal name for Newfoundland

---

rock Scientific  

/ rŏk /

1. A relatively hard, naturally occurring mineral material. Rock can consist of a single mineral or of several minerals that are either tightly compacted or held together by a cementlike mineral matrix. The three main types of rock are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

2. A piece of such material; a stone.

---

rock More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing rock

• between a rock and a hard place
• on the rocks
• steady as a rock

---

Related Words

See swing ¹.

Other Word Forms

• rockable adjective
• rockingly adverb
• rockless adjective
• rocklike adjective
• unrocked adjective

Etymology

Origin of rock¹

First recorded in 1300–50; 1905–10 rock ¹ for def. 10; Middle English rokk(ke), from Old French roche, ro(c)que; compare Provençal, Spanish roca, Italian rocca, Medieval Latin rocca, rocha (becoming late Old English -rocc in stānrocc “stone-rock, obelisk”); roche alum

Origin of rock¹

First recorded in 1100–50; Middle English rokken, rocken, rocke(n) “to rock (a cradle),” Old English roccian; cognate with Middle Dutch rocken “to stir, make move,” German rücken “to move, shift,” Old Norse rykkja “to jerk, pull”

Origin of rock¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; short for rockfish

Example Sentences

Turns out, the chunk of rock that they targeted is much smaller than previously thought.

From Space Scoop

The Lord Mayor's award, one of Birmingham's highest civic honours, will be presented posthumously on Wednesday - the day the rock legend would have been toasting his 77th birthday.

From BBC

The greeting was worthy of a rock star.

From Los Angeles Times

The West Yorkshire site will also feature a Thursday headline performance for the first time, with rock band Kasabian set to take to the stage.

From BBC

The arrest of leader Han Hak-ja in September rocked the Unification Church, which claims to have 10 million followers worldwide and controls a sprawling business empire.

From Barron's

Related Words

• earth
• gravel
• lava
• metal
• rubble
• slab